Beet-harvester.



J. BOGKER.

BEE-T HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED 'JULY 31, 1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

6 sums-sum 2.

'29 FIG.2. 30 A 5 123 6 -J. BUCKER.

BEET HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1912.-

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

5 BEBETSSHEET 3.

mmim J. BUOKER.

BBET HARVESTER.

APPLIQAJION FILED JULY 3]., 1912.

Patented Aug. 5;, 1913.

5 SHEETSSEEBT 4.

Patented Aug. '5,- 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

entrain snares earnsr caries.

JACOB B6CKER, OF GASTER, HEAR BEDBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HA1?! TO rnnonoa WASSENBERG, or ELSEN,

NEAR GREVENBROICH, GERMANY.

BEET-HABVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5,1913.

Application filed July 31, 1912. Serial No. 712,456.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAoon BljCKER, a. citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Caster, near Bedburg, Rhenish Prussia,

in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Beet-Harvester, of which th following is a specification.

My invention relates to a beet-harvester adapted to simultaneously cut off the tops of beets or other bulbous vegetables in one row and, to lift the cut beets in another row out of the soil, also to separately collect the tops and the beets and to discharge them from time to time. The tops cutoif are thus protected from damage and kept separate from the beets. The heaps of tops and of beets separately discharged from the machine are deposited on the ground. in rows at right angles to the rows of the unlifted beets. The top cutting device can be displaced with regard to the beet lifting device, so that the driver is enabled to adjust his machine to the varying distance between the rows of the unlifted beets and to shift the top cutting device at any time into the correct position for properly cutting theseveral tops. The top cutting device is provided with grippers for engaging beneath the lowest leaves and for raising them and also with means for vertically adjusting the knives, so that they can cut the several tops at'the proper height and consequently all waste of bulbs is avoided. Behind the top cutting device an elevator is disposed in the frame of the harvester. The beet lifting device comprises a pair of shares for loosening and heaping the soil up on .both sides of the beet row, and a pair of vibrating bars pivotally connected with the shares and adapted to alternately and successively push the bulbs from opposite sides in alternating directions for gradually lifting them out of the soil. Behind the beet lifting device a pair of vertical elevators is disposed in the frame of the harvester and two horizontal forwardly tapering cones are fastened on the two shafts of the lower chain wheels of the two elevators, so that during their rotation in opposite directions they are adapted to conduct any lifted beetthat may .be out of line into the middle vertical longitudinal plane. The parts of the two elevators facnig one another are moved upward and are provided with horizontal rows of pins in the same planes for the two elevators which pins are adapted to prick and to raise the bulbs. The length of the pins in each row increases from the front to the rear of the machine, so that all beets of different size can he certainly seized.

Other improvements will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the beet -'harvester on the broken line EF in Fig. 7 and shows only the top cutting and lifting device, Fig. 2 is an upper view of the top cut ting device, F ig; 3 is a vertical section through the line AB'in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is the front end view of the machine and shows only the front parts, while all the other parts are omitted, Fig. 5 is a vertical. section through the broken line G-H in Fig. 7 and shows the beet lifting device, Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section throughthe line C-D in Fig. 5, Fig. -7 is an upper view of the beetharvester and shows only the upper parts, Fig. 8 is an elevation of the rear part of the same, seen in the direction. of the 'arrow w in Fig. 7, Fig. 9' is a rear end view and shows the two elevators and the receptacle of the beet lifting device, also the receptacle of the top lifting device, Fig. 10' is a similar view and shows the conveyer and the receptacle of the top lifting device, Fig? 11. shows the lower end of the two bulb elevators, and Fig. 12 is an upper view of the same.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout: the several views. The beet-harvester comprises a frame, the

construction of which is for example shown,

but not. further. described here, as it. may be varied to suit the circumstanees. In this frame is fastened a rear axle 200 (Figs. 1

and. 7), on the ends of which two large rear wheels 2, 2 are mounted to turn iudependently of one another. At the front the frame comprises a lower-crooked bar .'l and a straight bar 5 above this bar (Figs. 1 and 4). The ends of these two bars 4 and 5 have holes, in which two vertical shafts 3, 3 are mounted to turn and to longitudinally move. The two shafts 3, 3 are each made in one with a horizontal pin at the lower end and on these twopins two small front wheels 1, l are mounted to turn. Preferably the two shafts 3 are provided with collars 6, 6, on which the ends of the 1 0 lowest bar 4 are made to bear. On the bar 5-arc provided two studs. '1, 'l', which are pivotally connected with two levers or lea-f springs 8, 8. The outer ends of these levers are made to hear from above against the two shafts 3. 3 and two helical. springs 9, 9 are provided beneaththe bar for pressing the two levers 8, 8 downward by means of rods 9. l). lt will be seen, that 1n this manner all the four wheels 1, .1, 2, 2 are brought into close contact with the soil, so that when either fcont wheel 1 moves into some hole or recess in the ground, the frame and con sequcntly the whole machine is protected from tilting, since the frame is still supported in itsnormal position by the three other Wheels. On the other hanih when either front wheel 1 runs over some elevation, the frame will move with it upward, while the other front wheel 1 remains in contact with the soil and prevents the vehicle from tilting. :On each shaft 3 is fas 'tcned a two-armed lever 3 and the outer ends of the two levers 3*, 3 are pivotally connected by means of rods 180, 180 with the outer ends of a third two-armed lever 1S1 fastened on a vertical shaft 182, which latter is mounted in the frame to turn. At the upper end the shaft 182 carries a bevel wheel 183, which meshes with an inclined bevel pinion 18% (Fig. 1). The shaft of this pinion is connected by of a universal joint 201 with an inclined shaft 185 carrying a handwheel 186. it will. nowbe seen, that the (:lriver on he seat 187! (in i 7 indicated by dotte. Ines} is in this manner enabled to steer the vehicle. Any

animal is in any known manner (notshown) to be put to the vehicle, for example by means of some draft-bar attached to the lowest bar l on the left end. in Fig. 4, so that the ani'i cl ca; along row of beets about to be lifte out without damaging the bulbs. I

The vehicle i 3 comprises a small vertical frame 11(1Mgs. 1 and witl'iin which a smaller frame 12 is mounted to swing on pins 13, 13 ound a vertical axis. The frame is provided with a cross pin on which a crooked bar can rock. The front thickened end 10 (Fig. '2) of this bar'lO has a hole, in which a vertical. pin on a horizontal plate 1-1 (Fig. l) engages,

so that in this manner thebar 1.0 is pivotally connected with the plate 141%.. The plate 14 v is longitudinally guided in the frame in the cross direction of the vehicle andby means of two rolls 15 15 below and four rolls 16 16 above (Figs. 1 and 2). l .hc thickened end 10 of the bar 10 is permitted "to move between the four rolls 16 16. Near the end 11) the bar 10 carriee an upwardly projecting pin a, which engages in the slot of a slofiiidarm 17 fastened on a vertical. Q

shaft 17 that rocka in the frame ano. 11aof the tops 203.

Loceneo an upper arm 17* (Figs. 4 and 7). This arm 17" is p-ivotally connected by means of a rod 18 with a hand-lever 19 loose on a shaft 20 Secured inthe frame. The bar 10 is by means of a suitable crosshead rigidly connected with two superposed cross bars 22, 22 (Fig. 1), in which two vertical bars 23 are guided and can be adjusted by means of two pins 23 introduced above a-ndfloeneath' the upper bar 22 into any of sev:

eral holes provided in the bars 23. The H upper parts of the two bars 23, 23 are intact with one another and can be together pivot-ally with an arm 25 (Figs. 1 and 7 fastened on a shaft 25 rocking in the'frame. An

other arm 26 fastened on the shaft 25 is pivotally connected by means of a rod 27 with another hand-lever 28, which is loose on the shaft 20 and can be adjusted in any position by means of two guiding bows 21 provided with a series of recesses into any of which the point at the lower end of a known spring-pressed lever 28 can engage. Or the bow 21 may be provided with known notches .'into any of which a known springpressed lock guided on the hand-lever 28 can engage. The lower ends of the two bars 23, 23 form shoes, in which two grippers 30. 30 are in any known manner adjusted, so that they can be moved nearer to; gcther or apart. These grippers 30, 8.0 are cllned so,.that their upper ends are in conconnected by means of a rod 241 adapted toengagc beneath the lowest leaves It is to be noted, that nor mally the shaft 17, the lever 25 and the bar 10 are tobe in the vertical plane of a row of boots 20 1. The two grippers 30 are to be pivotally connected at 32 (Fig. 1) with two inclined rods 32 which are to be supported inany known manner (not shown) by the frame and serve for raising during the drive the leaves engaged by the ppers 30.

'lTwdbentlevers 37, 37 (Figs. 1 and 2) are mounted on both sides of the bar 10 to rock on apin 38, which pin can be introduced into any of the holes 39 provided in -the levers and through the respective hole of the bar: Where so preferred, of course the holes 29. may be provided in the bar 10 instead of in the levers 37. The-front ends of the two levers 37, 37 are connected together by means of a how 190 (Fig. 8), so that the partsBT, 190, 37 form a frame rocking on the pin 38. The how 190 is provided in its middle with a lug 190 which is yieldingly connected with the .above mentioned arm 25 by means of a chain 73 or the like. The how 190 is rigidly-connected with two arms 205 205, the lower ends of which are connected together by means of two superposed pins 206 and 20,7. On'the lower pin 206 a curved lever 3 1' (Fig. 1) can rock, which is provide with a front arm 31 and an upper aoeaaso slotted arm 208. The upper pin 207 passes through the slot of the arm 208, which latter is provided with two opposite adjusting screws 209, 209 adapted to bear against the pin 207: It will be understood, that the lever 34 can be lowered by. screwing the right adjusting screw 209 rearward to the right in Fig. l and screwing the left screw 209 forward in the same direction, or raised by screwing the two screws in the opposite direction. The front arm 31 serves as a divider, which passes through the middle of any top 203, and the lever 34 is to engage in the space formed by the front arm 31 and serves for preventing the top 203 from shift ing to either side. during the cutting operation. hen the rows of beets 204 happen to be not at the correct distance from one another or when any beet happens to be out of line, the driver perceiving this can so turn his hand-lever 19, as to move the bent lever 34 into the vertical. central plane of the row of beets, so that the correct cutting of the top 203 is in this manner insured.

A bow 59 similar to bow 190 is pivotally connected with the two levers 37, 37 and is provided on eachsidewith two superposed The lower ends of the two shafts 5.6, 56 formlugs 57, 57, in which two vertical shafts 56, 56 (Fig. are mounted to turn and to' longitudinally move. They are adjusted by means of loose collars 60, 60 with set-screws.

shoes 55, 55, in which two oppositely bent knives 54, 54 (Fig. 2) can besecured. At the upper ends the two shafts 56, 56 carry two arms 61, 61, through the outer ends of which passes a rod 62 carrying at the ends two nuts 61 61. A helical spring 63 surrounding the rod 62 bears against the two arms 61, 61. The two nuts 61, 61 as to normally move the outer ends of the knives 54, 54 near together, so that they can cut the top of any beet 204 properly for detaching the top 203, which then drops on the soil. The helical spring 63 permits the two are so adjustedknives 54, 54 to open under the pressure of any obstacle (for example a stone) that may get between them. The bar 101s pivotally connected with a link 45 (Figs. 1 and 3), which at its upper end is provided with several holes. Beyond the pin 38 the two levers 37, 37 are bent upward to form two rear arms, which are connected with a link 41 having two lugs. A rod 42 engages with its lower screw-threaded end inthe two lugs of the link 41 and can be at its upper end pivotally connected with the upper end of the link 45 by means of a pin engaging in any of its holes 46. Thebow 59 is in itsmiddle rigidly connected with a how 64, which compasses the link 45 and carries aroller 65 for reducing the friction between the two parts 4.5 and 64. Each side ofthe bow 59 has a lug 66, which by means of a link 67 is connected with the front arm of a two-armed lever 68. The bar 10 is pivotally connected. with a frame 69 having on each side two pins 69 and 69 The said levers 68 are made to rock on the'upper pins 69 ,while on the lower pins 69 two parallel levers 70 loaded with weights-72 are made to rock. Each lever 70 is pivotally connected with a bow 71 provided with several holes, and the bow '71 can be pivotally connected with the rear arm of the corresponding lever 68 by means of a pin introduced into any of its holes. The movable parts connected with the bar 10 and theweight's 72, 72 are so adjusted or balanced, that the lever 34 and the knives 54, 54 normally occupy their lowest position, but that a slight pressure is sufficient for raising the knives. means of this arrangement the knives 54, 54 will belifted through a corresponding distance, in case'the lever 34 is raised by a beet-,more

projecting from the ground than the others.

In such a casethe roller 65 on the link 45, so that the knives 54, 54 will during their work move in a horizontal plane, in which then the top of the bulb 204 will run upward will be out.

As is indicated in Fig. 1, the chain 7 3 for connecting'the lug 190 of the bow 190 with the lever 25 remains slack during the normal work of the machine. When for turn ing the vehicle during the work or for driving the harvester over some road the handlever 28 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 210 in Fig. 1, first the grippers 30 are raised by means -.of the rod 24 and after ward the lever 34 and the knives 54, 54 are raised by means of the chain 73, so as to keep these parts clear of the soil.

For lifting the cut tops 203 from the soil an elevator of the following construction is employed: Two levers 84, 84 (Figs. 1 and 7) rocking on the machine frame at 87 are by means of two chains 88 and a cross bar 88 connected with an arm' 88 fastened above on a shaft 89 rocking in the machine frame and carrying a hand-lever 90. The two levers 84, 84 are by means of two links 83 and a shaft 86 pivotally connected with an extensible bar 86, which is suspended from a shaft 86 and is in any known manner so constructed, that it can extend on the levers .84 being lowered by means of the hand-lever 90 and contract on the levers 84 being raised. The two shafts 86 and 86 carry two chain wheels 7 6, 76, over which an end less chain 75 of any known construction passes- The links of this chain carry pins '77, 77, which are adapted to prick and to carry along with them the tops 203 in the direction of the arrow 211 in Fig. l on an I.

inclined bottom 7 7 fastened in the machine frame. A scraper 92is fastened above the upper chain wheel- 76 on the machine frame, and serves for stripping 05 any top that may still adhere to the pins 77 above the upper end 01 the bottom 77 A longitudinally slotted trough. 91 1 and 7} fastened on the machine frame is to receive the tops J03 dropping from the elevator and a conveyor 98 (Fig. 10) ,that is an end less chain, disposed in the slot oft the trough 91 serves for conveying the tops to a receptacle 0 1, 170 to be presently described. The conveyor 03 is shown as disposed slantingly and the shaft at the lower chain wheel 03- is driven from the left rear wheel 2 (Fig. 7) by means of chain gear 78, a shaft 79, a chain gear 80, a shaft 81, a chain gear 07, a shaft 07, two bevel wheels 98, 98, a shaft 96, a universal joint 212, a shaft 95 and an other universal joint 213. The receptacle 9%,

170 Figs. 9 and 10) consists of a stationary grate 17 0 bentgrate 0i and a turnable bent v fastened on a shaft 21 1, which is mounted in till the machine frame to rock (Fig. 8) and carries an arm 171, that is pivotally connected by means of a rod 172 with the rear arm of a two-armed lever 173 rocking on the machine itrame. Any lrnown means, for e: ample a helical spring 214; surrounding the shaft 214- and connected at one end with this shaft or a part of the movable grate 170 and at the other end with the machine frame, is employed for normally closing the receptacle by pressing the lower end of the movable grate 170 against the lower end of the stationary grate 9- 1. The front arm of the lever 173 carries an adjustable triangle 174, which can be periodically struck from the right rear wheel 2 by means of a roller 107 (Fig. 7) for turning the'lever 173 and consequently turning the movable grate 170 into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 10, whereby the receptacle 9 1, 170,

is opened, so that the tops 203 therefrom dis charged drop on the soil. The right rear wheel 2 is rigilly connected with a concentric ring 164:, which is provided on the inner part with an annular groove and on the outer parts with notches similar to the tooth spaces of a gear wheel.- A ring 165 (Fig. 7) turnable in the said groove of the ring 164. is made in one with an arm 166, which is slotted at the outer end and a pin adjustable in this slot carries the said roller 167. The arm 106 has two lugs, in which a spring-pressed handle 167 is guided and it will be understood, that normally under the pressure or" its spring the handle 167 is made to engage in any of the notches of the ring 16 1-, whereby thearm 166 is prevented from displacing itself with" regard to the rear wheel 2. The handle 167 can be withdrawn from the notch against the pressure of its spring and then turned. so that in this manner the arm 106 with the roller 107 can be adjusted in any position.

Wh ere so preferred, the elevator described above may comprise two parallel endless chains 75- :oassmg over i noeaeao wheels 76, 76, so that corresponding links of the two chains can be connected together by means of cross bars carrying each several pins 77, 77 so that the tops 203 can be all seized and lifted with a greater certainty.

It will be understood, that the driver is enabled by pulling-the hand-lever 90 forward to lift the lower end of the elevator 75, 76, 77 oil from the ground during turning the machine or driving it over the road. He is also enabled to stop the motion of the endless chain or chains by means of a left clutch 188 shown in. Figs. 1 and 7, which requires no further explanation.

A divider 189 shown in Fig. 7 is prefer-- ably disposed in front of the left rear wheel 2 and near the ground for protecting the cut-oil" tops 203 from damage by the rear wheel.

A lever 100 (Fig. 5) is mounted in the machine frame to rock at 100 (Fig. 1) in the vertical plane of the row of beets 204:, the tops of which had been cut off by the device described above. The free end of the lever 100 is guided between two suitable parts 133,

133 of the machine frame and is shown as connected with a head 215, which is suspended from a disk 102 by means of a chain 101 or the like passing over a guiding pulley 216. On the shaft carrying the disk 102 is also fastened a worm wheel 103, which meshes with a worm 104: on an inclined shaft 105 that can be turned by nneans of a handcrank 106 from the drivers seat 187. In this manner the lever 100 can be lowered and raised, after which it may be secured by means of a pin introduced through any of the holes 185, 135 in the parts 133, 1.33. On the lever 100 is fastened in any known manner a how 107 forming a part of a pair of parallel plow arms 109, which latter are pivotally connected with a rod 108 extending to the front of The front end of the rod 108 may be con nected with some known draft part, to which the animal can be put, it so preferred. The animal will also in this case have to go on the left side in Fig. 1, as explained above. The two plow arms 109 are shown as made in one with two plowshares 110 adapted to preliminarily plow the soil on both sides of the row of beets 204, so as not only to loosen the soil, but also to heap up the earth, as is shown in Fig. 5. The two shares 110 may be inclined inward anddownward for producing the said etl'ect. Any known means shonld be employed for varying at will the cross distance between the two plowshares 110, so as to leave a space between their edges slightly larger than the diameter of.

two pairs or chain 1 in it a pin 111 and carries a bridge 217. On

the machine frame (Fig.

both sides of the head .215 two shoes 112 are mounted to rock on the pin 111 and two adjusting screws 216. 218 are disposed in the bridge 2.17 for adjusting the two shoes. Two

arms 113 are secured to the shoes 112 in any known manner and are provided with plowshares 11% for further loosening and heaping up the soil. By means of the screws 218 and by turning the hand-crank 106 the depth, into which the shares 111 are to out, can be adjusted.

Each plow arm 113 has at the lower end a rear arm 115, to which is 'pivotally connected a lifter 116. The lifter 116 is in turn pivotally connected by means of a bent rod 117 (Fig 6) with a lever 118 on the upper end of the arm 113. .Two parallel 121, 121 (Figs. 6 and 7) are mounted in the machine frame to turn in opposite directions and carry two opposite eccentrics 120, 120, the two straps 119, 119 of which are piv0t ally connected with the two levers 118, 118 by-ineans of rods 119 and 119'. Each rod 119 has an upper arm 129 bearing against the lower end of the corresponding rod119, whereby the two parts- 119 and 119 are prevented from bending to the left in Fig. 5. A hand-lever 132 is mounted in the ma chine frame to rock at 131 and has a lower bentarm 130 with a cross head 130 which latter is adapted to bear with two rollers 1 150 against the rod parts 119 119 so that in this manner the three parts 119, 1.19, 119 are maintained their normal straight position and are able to positively move the arm 118 and by the rod 117 also thelifter 116. hen, however, by pulling the handlever 132 downward the two rollers 130 1230* are moved away from the rod parts 119, 119 then the parts 119, 119 of each rod can bend to the right in Fig. 5 for permitting the lever with all. parts connected therewith to be raised by turning the hand-crank 106 in the respective direction and thus the plowshares 110, 114 can be withdrawn from the soil and kept suspended during the drive or during turning. As the two eccentrics 120, 120 are placed oppositely, the two lifters 116, 116 will reciprocate in opposite directions, so as to alternately push the beet 204. from opposite sides for effectively loosening the beet and facilitating its ascent. The two lifters 116, 116 are rods of triangular cross section (Fig. 6), so asto enable them to better cut downward into the soil and to strike the beet 201 from below Preferably the two lifters 116, 116 are made to converge rearward, so that also the smallbeets can he certainly seized and lifted. Each time, that the beet 204 is knockedupward the loosened soil will fill up the space left by the beet, so that the beet is prevented from sinking and obliged to gradually rise from the soil, as is shown in Fig.

instead of sliding on it.

The levers 118 are provided with several holes and also the lower ends of the rod parts 11%), 119 so as to be able to adjust the several parts in their relative position.

The above mentioned two shafts 121, 121 are driven from the right rear wheel 2 by means of a chain 4 I chain gears 126, 126, two shafts 122, 123 and two pairs of bevel wheels'shown in Fig. 7. The motion of the shaft 125 and the parts thereby driven can be stopped by means of the right clutch 188 in Fig. 7. I

Two bows 1355, (Figs. 5 and 7) are mounted in the machine frame to rcck'at 131 and are rigidly connected with arms 194 194- the free ends of which are sits-- pended from two arms 196, 196 on the shaft 89 by means of two chains 195 or the like passing over guiding pulleys 219, 219. The two arms 191, 1941: are pivotally connected with two vertical bars 220, which carry in their forked ends the shafts 223, 223 of chain wheels 136, 136 (Figs. 11 and 12). The chain wheels 136, 136 in the two bars 220, 220 are made to rotate in opposite directions, as is indicated by the arrows ,in Fig. The two shafts 223, 223 of the lower chain wheels 136, 136 extend beyond the front bearings and carry two cones 140, 1 10, which taper forward" and are therefore adapted to catch any beet 204 that may have moved out of the line and to conduct it to the vertical central plane between the two bars .220, 220. 136, 136 in each bar 220 pass two endless chains 13?, 13?, certain corresponding links of which are connected together by means of cross pieces 221, 221. Each cross piece 221 carries several (here four) bent pins 222, 222, the parts of which parallel to the chain have the same length, while the other parts forming points at right angles to thechain,

have a length, which increases from the front to the rear of themachine so that the point-s of the two elevators facing one another can prick also the smallest beets and carry them upward with a certainty, see Fig. 9. During the motion .of the endless chains 137, 137 the pins 222, 222 are made to engage in the soil, so that their points can strike the beet 204 nearly in a horizontal direction and thus prick it with a certainty, The inner bar 220 is longer than the outer one, as is shown at Fig. 9, so that the upper end of the inner bar 220 is higher than that of the outer bar. A scraper 141 is secured on the machine frame for stripping any beet still a lhering to the points222 of the left elevator and throwing it over the upper end of the rightelevator. The two upper shafts 223, 228 are driven'froin the already mentioned two shafts 121, 121 by means of two shafts 191, 191 (Figs. 5 and 7) and four 221,. which latter permit the two ele ators to be simultaneously raised Over the fourchain wheels gear 127, shaft 125, two

ill

and lowered by means of the handlever 90 without stopping the transmission of the motion. Of course, when the said right clutch 188 is withdrawn from the corre sponding chain wheel, the mot-ion oil the endless chains of the twoelevators will be at the same time stopped.

On the machine frame is fastened in any known manner (not shown) a stationary inclined grate consisting of a series of parallel bars 14:5 (Fig: 7) and carrying at the inner end a series of parallel upwardly bent bars 142 forming a chute for the beets a discharged from the two elevators. Beneath the grate. 1 15 another grate is mounted in the machine frame to rock at 225 (Fig. 9) and this grate consists of a series of parallel bars at right angles to those of the upper chain gear 151 (Fig. 7).

- levers 'a series of prongs 152 that are grate and provided with upwardly pro1ccting pins 147, which engage between the bars 1&5 of the upper grate (Fig. 7) and are adapted to strike and shake the beets tor freeing them from most of the adhering earth. The free end of the rocking grate bears upon the bent rear arm' of a twoarmed lever 148 (Figs. 5 and 8) rocking in the machine frame at 1 19 and 'pivotally connected at its tront end by means of a rod 226 with a crank 150 (Figs. 5 and 7), which is driven from the shaft 123 by means ot a The beets 20d sliding down the chute 14:2 and the upper grate 145 While being shaken by the pins 147 of the lower grate drop into a receptacle 1 16 fastened in any known manner (not shown) on the machine frame. The bot tom of the receptacle 14:6 consists of two inclinedplates, of which one 158 (Fig. 8) forms a trapdoor, which is provided with a projecting arm 227 (Figs. 8 and 9). This arm 227 is pivotally connected by means of arod 159 with the rear arm of a two-armed lever 157 rocking at 228. The front arm of this lever 157 is crooked, engages in the path of the roller 167 and carries two bent 160 and 162, the upper arms of which are connected together by means o'la rod 161. The lower arm of the lever 162 also engages in the path of the roller 167, while the upper arm of the same is connected with the freeend of thelever 157 by means of a helical spring shown in Fig. 8. The lower arm ofthe lever 160 normally engages bcneath a stop 163, whereby the closed trapdoor 158 is locked. In the upper grate 1 15 a shaft 153 (Fig. 9) is mounted to rock, which has fastened on it a bent arm 15 1and normally beneath the upper surface of the grate 145 and can turn upward into a position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9 for stopping the beets 204 on the grate 1 15. The arm 15 1 is pivotally connected with the front arm of the lever 157, (Fig. 8) by means of two rods 155 and 15$ and a piece rigidly eonl l l l l \ihe lever 162 for unlocking the trap-door reac es 7 of these two rods. ill. the upper rod necting the inner ends helical spring surrounrl'mg 156 and bearing on the one hand against the step and on the other hand against the the said coni'iccting trap-door 15S and turning the prongs 152 into their normal position.

"t will be now understood, that during the drive of the machine the roller 167 on the arm 166 will strike first the lower/arm oi piece serves tor closing 158 and then the free end of the lever 157 :t'or opening the trapdoor 158 and turning the prongs 152 upward. Then the hosts discharged from the receptacle 146 will drop on the soil and the beets discharged from the l plevators will be'stopped, so asto protect them "from damage during the closing of the trap-door 158. W hen the roller 1'67 re l leases both levers 1G2 and 157, the helical spring surrounding the rod 156 will again 1 close the trapdoor 158 and turn the prongs l 152 downward, while the lever 162 under the l action ot' its spring will locl; the trap-door. By turning and adjusting the arm 166 with the ring 165 the roller 167" can be made to strike the levers 162 and 157 at such a'mo- 'nent, that the beets are discharged from the receptacle 1 18 and from a heap on the ground at any desired distance from the end of the field. As the roller 167 actuates in the described manner the trapdoor 158 once on every revolution of the right rear wheel 2, it will be evident, that the heaps of beets will be deposited. on the soil at a distance from one another equal to the periphery of the rear wheel 2, which may be for example 8.750 meters. This distance is so great, that a. car can he moved in the transverse direction between the heaps'ot beets and tops and be loaded with these materials respectively for removing them. By longitudinally adjusting the triangle 174: on the lever 173 the roller 1b? can be made to strike the triangle for effecting the discharge of the tops from the receptacle 94:, 17.0 at any desired. moment, so that the distance between the heaps of beets and tops deposited can be varied at will. the receptacle 9%, 17 0 for the tops is disposed behind that 14:6 for the beets, it I is even possible to effect the discharge of l the tops at the moment, that the receptacle l 9 1, 170 is above the heap of beets, so that the tops discharged will cover the heap of beets, it this is so desired.

It is to be noted, that the left rear wheel 2 is made to operate the top cutting and litting device, while the right rear wheel 2 is made to operate the beet lifting device, so that it is possible to operate these two del vices simultaneously or separately, as may be desired, as it is only necessary to engage or disngage the two clutches 188, 1188 re spectively. l The pin carrying the roller 167" can be so shifted on the arm 166 as to withdraw the roller from the reach of the levers 162 and '15? and of'the triangle 174, when it is desired to drive the machine over the road.

The beet-harvester described can bevaried in many respects Without departing" from the spiritof my invention.

I claim:

1. In a beet-harvester, the combination with a frame, of wheels for supporting said frame and adapted to roll on the soil, a top cutting and lifting device disposedlongitudinally in said frame, a beet lifting device, in said frame parallel to said top cutting and lifting device, a beet receptacle in id frame adapted to receive the beets from said beet lifting device, a top receptacle behind said beet receptacle in said frame and adapted to receive the tops from said top cutting and lifting device, a mechanism for opening and closing said beet receptacle, another mechanism for opening and closing said top receptacle, and adjustable means on one of said Wheels for operating said two mecha-" nisms at predetermined points of time.

2. In a beet-harvester, the combination with frame, of Wheels for supportingvsaid frame and adapted to roll on the soil, a receptacle in said frame, a mechanism for opening and closing said receptacle, a toothed concentric ring fastened on one of said Wheels and provided with a groove along the periphery, a strap movable in the groove of said toothed ring and provided with an arm, and a spri11gpressed lock longitudinally guided in the arm of said strap and adapted to engage in any tooth space of said ring, the arm of said strap being'adapted to operate said mechanism.

JACOB BOCKER.

\Vitnesses Lorne VAXDORY, F. 'lnni-nznnnnzvn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C. 

